Free 1 Hour Virtual Workshop! Thurs, Jan 29 at 12pm PST

In partnership with the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology (CMI), Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP) presents their Annual Winter Webinar Series on the theme of Lessons for the next chapter of Restoration & Stewardship in the Columbia Basin.

Dry, non-forested brushland ecosystems (Gb) offer unique and important habitat for many rare and at-risk species in the low elevation of the West Kootenays. They often occur in a complex of other dry ecosystems such as rock outcrops and open forests. Classification and restoration approaches related to this topic have been developed collaboratively over the last several years. This presentation will focus on the classification, distribution, and best management practices for these unique ecosystems.

Facilitator

• Audrey Ehman has worked on a variety of ecosystem projects throughout southeast BC as both a technician and ecologist. She co-authored of “A Field Guide to Ecosystem Classification and Identification for Southeast British Columbia: The East Kootenay
  Volume 71 of Land management handbook“, and she currently teaches about plants and ecosystems at Selkirk College. She has worked in ecosystem classification and applied ecology in southern BC for over 10 years. Through her roles as research technician and field ecologist, she has been able to explore many remote and stunning areas of BC. The numerous field projects she has worked on contribute to increased knowledge and conservation of the ecosystems of our province.

This year’s webinar series is designed to honour the legacy and capture the extensive knowledge of senior restoration and stewardship professionals in the Columbia Basin. As many of these experts approach retirement, this series provides a timely platform for intergenerational knowledge exchange—ensuring that decades of applied research, field experience, and collaborative learning are effectively transferred to the next generation. Presenters will reflect on key lessons from their careers in ecological restoration, land stewardship, and ecosystem monitoring, emphasizing important insights that can and should inform future restoration efforts.

As we explore these stories, we recognize and honour Indigenous peoples as the original and enduring stewards of these lands, and reflect on how Indigenous values, knowledge, and practices can be meaningfully integrated into current and future restoration planning and implementation. By fostering this continuity, the series supports the long-term resilience of conservation efforts in the Kootenays—a region of exceptional biodiversity increasingly affected by climate change and human disturbance

Register Here

Audrey Ehman, P.Ag. Consultant, Instructor of Forest Technology, Selkirk College